The Arts

LICAD AT CCP; GUITAR CONCERT AT AYALA MUSEUM FEB. 11

By Pablo A. Tariman
Manila
February 8, 2016



       Trust Ms. Nedy Tantoco of the Rustan  Group of companies to come up with a fool-proof fund-raising idea.

       Noting the popularity of the grand Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor and the often-hummed Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Tantoco presented pianist Cecile Licad and the PPO for an evening of twin concertos to raise funds for the  foreign tour of the national orchestra.

       The concert surpassed everybody’s expectations as the theater was full, everybody who counted (and those who didn’t) were there. What was heartwarming was that the young musicians came in full force.

       As for Licad, she didn’t rely on the concerto’s popularity to make it work. On the whole, it looked as though she overhauled the entire concerto and gave it a new look and a new sound.

       Indeed the two concertos were a grand introduction for the  Hamburg Steinway grand that came all the way from New York.

       The concerto’s andantino semplice movement was the most magical with soloist and conductor lovingly looking at each other and enjoying every moment. The cello part entranced.

       By the time the audiences were all agog over the allegro vivace fireworks, the second movement had a sure place in the heart of perceptive music lovers.

       As for Rach 2, there was no doubt Licad had the piece at the palm of her hand.

       There was quiet but powerful sense of urgency in  the first movement, a breath-taking and highly lyrical second movement and a jaw-dropping finale that had audiences from the orchestra and balcony sections rising as one for a rousing standing ovation.

       She was the usual generous soloist giving three encores (Buencamino’s Lullaby, the popular Embraceable You and Gottschalk’sSouvenir d'Andalouisie) for which she got two more standing ovations.

        Here’s hoping the concert raised enough funds for the PPO US tour in June this year.
* * *

       The next guitar not to be missed is the February 11 (6:30 p.m.) concert called  “Kundiman at Iba Pa” at the Ayala Museum.

       Featured artists are classical guitarists  Lester Demetillo, Ramoncito Carpio, Aaron Aguila, and Jordan Amaca with special guests  soprano Stephanie Quintin, mezzo soprano Astarte Abraham, and clarinetist Nicole Tejedor.

       Jose Logarta, head of the Philippine Art Ventures (iPav) told the Inquirer 2015 was an exciting year for the guitar community with well-received guitar festivals participated in by both local and international artists of note.

        It was the year two Filipino guitarists won top prizes in international guitar competitions.
Aaron Aguila, won first prize in Jakarta and Aemilio Engingco, placed second and third in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The Triple Fret got the top prize in the Tokyo International Ensemble competition.

       Hopefully guitar audiences will improve with iPav and the Department of Education joining forces to launch a classical music appreciation program.

       For tickets to the February 11 guitar event, call  7598288 loc. 31 or 09178470773.